Will my old undergraduate GPA in an unrelated field stop me from further education?

[Medic362]

Hello first post here. I originally went to college and obtained my bachelors in Political Science and graduated with a 2.53 GPA and 139 credit hours. I was fresh out of high school at the time and a lazy bastard taking advantage of my parents generosity while attending almost no classes and getting wasted on a nightly basis. Eventually I graduated and realized I had no interest in that field so I went onto Fire Academy and Paramedic school following my former college roommate. Fire Academy turned me into a man and taught me work ethic and Paramedic school showed me a field I had interest in finally. I am back in school finishing up my Pre-Reqs towards a 1 year transition to an Associate in RN and getting As in everything but have only pulled myself up to a 2.7 GPA.

My question is in regards to furthering nursing education once I obtain my RN. I know it wont be hard to get into a BSN program as the Transition program is geared towards people who want to go straight into a BSN transition afterwards. I want to go onto NP or CRNA after a few years of working as a nurse. I realize these programs are incredibly competitive but will they primarily look at my grades in nursing or will I automatically be DQd due to my horrible undergraduate GPA. I have been looking at PA programs as well and find that it will take me 51 more credit hours with straight As to achieve the 3.0 minimum cumulative and even then thats not very competitive at all.

I do have around 4 years experience working as a medic(3 years non emergency, 1 year 911 in a fire dept).

thanks!

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I had a low GPA in my first degree too. It does follow you a bit, but many places will look at the difference between your recent grades and the past ones and recognize that there has been a change. Use the bad grades to push you to continue to do your best and excel at school.

[CharmantUn]

I had a 2.5 GPA with my first degree, too. Pulling mostly As in my pre-reqs, becoming a CNA, and volunteering over 400 hrs at two different hospitals (and getting great letters of recommendation) made a strong statement that I was now a serious student, and I was admitted into a BSN program. I continued to prove myself by getting a 3.8 my first year of nursing school; hopefully this will help me get into grad school one day.

Seek out programs that calculate your GPA based on your last 60 units, not your total college GPA.

Associate Degree programs in my area (California) have significantly lower overall GPA requirements, too.

[FLmomof5]

I had a 2.1 at the end of my BE-EE/minor in Physics with 154 credits. The NS I attended counted your pre-reqs only (3.8) and your test score on the NAT.

Choose the right school and you should have no problem.

[MissRN2b]

I've researched several crna programs and most of them just look at your last 60-90 credits. So if you continue to get A's and B's from here on out you should be fine.

[Despareux]

If you attend the same college, then yes, your gpa will follow you; BUT as the others have stated, you can increase your gpa. But if you attend a different college and do not transfer credits, then no, you will have a fresh start.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

If you attend the same college, then yes, your gpa will follow you; BUT as the others have stated, you can increase your gpa. But if you attend a different college and do not transfer credits, then no, you will have a fresh start.

I've always had to provide ALL transcripts, so even though the GPA at the new school resets, admissions can see the overall cumulative GPA. So the "fresh start" is showing a big difference between the past and present performance, not wiping the slate clean.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

This highlights the value of good interview and writing skills (which last, BTW, you have). If you demonstrate that you are not the same wasted slacker you were as an undergraduate, both by your recent work and your stellar personal presentation, I promise you they've seen and heard this story before. If your present grades reflect your intelligence and present work ethic, that will count far more than your wastrel years.

I'd rather have a former stoner who now knows exactly what life should hold in store than some ditz who just always wanted to be a nurse because she had an auntie who was one. Welcome to the profession, and good luck.